Wednesday, March 31, 2010

It's Friday, But Sunday's A'Comin'!!


I have posted this for the last two years and just have to post it again because I love it so much. I hope you enjoy it, especially if you've not read it before.


I heard Tony Campolo tell this story on an audio taped sermon years ago. I have never forgotten it. When I googled the phrase, I found
Tony's Story, which I cut and pasted here.

1 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tony Campolo tells the story of an African American Baptist preacher in the inner city of Philadelphia who preached a sermon Tony says he'll never forget. Tony preached first. He was "hot," so "hot" he says, that he even stopped and listened to himself. He sat down and said to his pastor: "Now see if you can top that one!" "Son," said the African American pastor, "you ain't seen nothin' yet." For an hour and a half the pastor repeated these words over and over again: "It's Friday, but Sunday's a comin'."

"I've never heard anything like it," Tony said. "He's on the cross. He's dying the agonizing death of crucifixion as a criminal. Just kept saying it. The congregation was spellbound by the power of it."



"It's Friday. Mary, Jesus' mother is crying her eyes out. That's her son up there on the cross. But it's only Friday," the preacher said. "Sunday's a comin'.

"The apostles were really down and out. Jesus, their leader, was being killed by evil men. But it was only Friday. Sunday is a comin'.

"The Devil thought he had won. 'You thought you could outwit me,' he said, 'but I've got you now.' But it was only Friday. Sunday is a comin'."

"He went on like that for 30 minutes, 40 minutes, an hour. Each time he said, 'It's Friday,' the crowd began to respond, 'but Sunday's comin'. An hour and 15 minutes.

"It's Friday and evil has triumphed over good. Jesus is dying up there on the cross. The world is turned upside down. This shouldn't happen. But it's only Friday. Sunday's a comin'.

"It's Friday. But Sunday is comin'. Mary Magdalene was out of her mind with grief. Her Lord was being killed. Jesus had turned her life from sin to grace. Now he was dead. But it's only Friday. Sunday is a comin'."

The place was rocking. For an hour and a half. "Friday! But Sunday is a comin'. Friday. But Sunday is a comin'. "The sisters and the brothers are suffering. It just isn't fair...all they have to go through, but it's only Friday. Sunday is comin'."

"I was exhausted," Tony said. "It was the best sermon I've ever heard. The old preacher was saying it and the people were with him. 'It's Friday, but Sunday is a comin'. It was powerful," Tony said. "It was personal."

Friends, whatever you are facing at the moment may seem like Friday, perhaps even a "Good Friday." But be certain of this, while it may be Friday, Sunday is a comin'!

IT'S FRIDAY!!



BUT SUNDAY'S A-COMIN'!!





11 comments:

Gigi said...

Praise God for His astounding, abounding love for us...Praise God for His grace in so much that He sent His own Son to die for us! How many of us would send our only child to suffer and die for people who hadn't even been born yet? Oh, how He loves us!

And Sunday's comin'!!!!!!

Glenda said...

I love this story! Our pastor used it last year, and I've never forgotten those words: "Sunday's a'comin'!"

I'm so glad Sunday came . . . and still comes after all our Fridays!

Brenda said...

I knew this was Tony Campolo you were talking about before I even opened your post!
That's one of our favorite lines after hearing him preach this many years ago.
Happy Easter!

Needled Mom said...

It's Friday and Sunday's a'comin'!!!

nancygrayce said...

I love this story too.

I do have a baptism post coming....I don't know why it's showing up in reader because it is still in draft. Probably some of my genius coming out! :)

Susan said...

And the best part, He's coming AGAIN soon.

grammy said...

I love that
I have heard it before
thanks for sharing it
I missed the dress parade
how fun that was to see your different looks
I was (I think I have shrunk) 5'6"
and that was taller than a lot of people (o:
did you get to be on a volley ball team or basketball
probably not because we didn't have them much in our day

Hootin Anni said...

Hope you and your family have a blessed, happy Easter that is filled with blessings and serenity, Dawn!!!

Hootin Anni said...

Again, I'm here posting...

Just wanted to stop by and wish you and yours a blessed Easter Sunday tomorrow!!

Sharon Lynne said...

Have a wonderful Easter!

I'm glad Sunday's comin'!

A Hint of Home said...

I'm so glad we serve a risen Savior!
Happy Easter and enjoy your Sunday services with your family.